1. Does anyone recommend getting a small tattoo as a first tattoo to get a feel for what the experience is like? I have been looking/ wanting to get a sugar skull, but have been wrestling with the idea of getting a smaller tattoo as a starter.
I have a “sugar skull”/dia de los muertos skull on the back of my calf and I absolutely LOVE it. If you’re that nervous, then go ahead and get a small one. I personally think that regardless of the size you’ll get a feel for what it feels like once you start and then you’ll learn to get used to it as the process goes on. I think if you got a small one initially, you would just get the feeling but then not get used to the “pain” as the session goes on.

2. I’m looking at getting a tattoo on the inner bicep of my arm? Would anyone recommend a spot other than this for a first tattoo? I understand there will be pain involved anywhere so I’m not really concerned about that, but is it overly painful there?
The inner part will be a more senesitive. My least painfull spot was side/top of my right theigh. I’d reccomend the theigh, upper arm, and calf for people who are worried about the pain.

3. What are people’s thoughts on getting tattoos that don’t have a significant meaning to them. I thought of , in the past, getting tattoos that had a meaning to me, such as depictions of the sports I love to play, music and what not. The past few months I have completely changed my mind and realized that I don’t want a tattoo that depicts who I am or what is significant in my life to me. I see people getting tattoos of their deceased loved ones or religious views,etc. I want a tattoo of artwork that I think is really beautiful ( I guess this can be viewed as something important to me, I don’t feel in the same sense though). Does anyone else have this same thought process?
Hmm…lol. “To each his own” is basically the only way I can put it. Some people get tattoos that they think are just the most awesome piece of ink ever, but someone else might think it’s completly stupid and pointless. I don’t reccomend getting tattoos JUST to have a tattoo. There should be atleast 1 reason behind it…. even it it’s “just because I liked they way it looked”…ya know?

4. When you have found a tattoo that you like how do you know if that’s what it is you want? Do you wait for an extended period of time?
5 of my 7 are custom, designed specifially for the idea I came to the artist with. But I also have an Ed Hardy design that’s the skull, cross bones and heart saying “love kills slowly”. I knew I wanted it because I’ve had some love troubles. Lol. I also have a general flash-grim reaper on my theigh…but I knew it was special because we have a saying in the emergency medical services “stealing life from the dead”. Basically if you can connect some sort of meaning to your tattoo then it’s all good. If you’re unsure about how you will feel about it a few years down the road… deff wait it out and don’t make any quick decisons.

I have people around me who I feel are making it difficult for me to get a tattoo. I know it is something for me and me alone, but they keep putting questions in my head.
I don’t think they aren’t making it difficult for you, most likely they’re just making sure that you aren’t going to get something you’ll regret down the road OR prevent you from getting a job! Just remember, it’s YOUR BODY and you can do whatever you want with it.

Hi

My advice is pin up the design look at it everyday for a month and see if you still love it.

If the answer is no then don’t get it done.

The whole thing about small tattoos is that you will likely think – damn I coped with that and should have gone bigger.

I would suggest the outer bicep or thigh for a first tattoo – it has more padding and hurts slightly less.

The tattoo doesn’t have to have a deep meaning for some it is just nice art – but you have to ask do I want to wear this in 50 years?

On the other hand 3 of my tattoos have a lot of meaning to me and I couldn’t give a shit what the rest of my family think about them. 😀

Take Care
Matthew